Gore Ready for Speech of Lifetime

L O S   A N G E L E S, Aug. 17 -- With a surprise appearance the night before the most important speech of his life, Al Gore jolted delegates to boisterous applause at the Democratic National Convention — and says he is “not nervous” about the performance tonight that could make or break his presidential hopes.

Gore ran out onto the stage Wednesday night after his 27-year-old daughter, Karenna, praised him as “the most wonderful father in the whole world” in a personal speech aimed at breaking the image of her father as a wonkish stiff. The beaming pair hugged, waved and blew kisses to the crowd before walking off the dais.

When this convention culminates tonight, Gore will return to the stage alone, as the undisputed leader of the Democratic Party and a man who has three months to erase the image of the loyal vice president that has been etched into the public consciousness over the last eight years and recast himself as a “fighter for working families.” And though Gore is well aware of his public persona, he will not shy away from talking policy shop.

Material Issues

Gore plans to spend as much — even slightly more — time talking about specific policy proposals as he does about his life and experiences. While aides say he plans to strike a positive tone, the vice president is expected to lay out unmistakable contrasts with his Republican opponent, George W. Bush, on issues.

“It’s not what I get out of the speech, it’s what the American people get out of the speech,” Gore said on Air Force Two Wednesday as he headed to Los Angeles. “I think they deserve specifics. I think they deserve a clear discussion of what the alternatives are and what the choices are on what we need to do to move our country in the right direction.”

Those specifics have been outlined exhaustively at this convention in the preceding days, and Gore talked them up all week as he stumped westward en route to Los Angeles: Universal health care for children, expanded prescription drug aid for seniors, “responsible” reform of Social Security and reserving the surplus for Medicare.